Prada to outfit the Olympic 2012 Italian sailing team

Prada has been revealed as the official sponsor of the Italian National sailing team for the Olympic and Paralympic games.

BY Aurelia Donaldson |
03 April 2012

The outfits designed by Prada for the Italian Olympics 2012 sailing team Photo: PRADA

Stella McCartney is not the only designer getting involved with the sporting event of 2012. While McCartney has revealed the Olympic Team GB kit she has designed (
see the unveiling of her collection here
), Prada has just announced their sponsorship of the Italian national sailing team for the Olympic and Paralympic games.

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Prada's previous sponsorship of four America's Cup campaigns make the label a natural choice to design not only the athletes uniforms, but also outfits for the technical staff.

Of the upcoming collaboration Carlo Croce, president of the Italian Sailing Federation commented: "We are extremely proud to have Prada as a sponsor, the Prada brand is not just a flagship of Italy worldwide, but it has always been very closely connected to our sport and has nearly become synonymous with major sailing challenges."

While Prada takes on sponsorship of the sailing team, fellow Italian native Giorgio Armani will be designing the uniform for the Italian Olympic team, who will also star in a new Emporio Armani campaign alongside British athletes Emily Pidgeon (middle distance runner) and Liam Phillips (BMX cyclist).

Not to be left out in the style stakes, the US Olympic and Paralympic team have enlisted the help of Ralph Lauren to design outfits for the opening and closing ceremony parade, continuing their long-standing collaboration.

But one team who are less than impressed with their kits however, are the Australian hopefuls, who unveiled a teal and gold uniform with an "acid buzz" trim (read: fluorescent green) and excessive rushing.

The unveiling of the Australian Olympic team uniforms at Sydney Olympic Park. Photo: AP

Even Australian Vogue editor Kirstie Clements found it a bit much, offering the following critique: "It's a bit of a mash-up. I don't mind the bright fluro, it's just that there's too much going on with the fluro touches. I think a bit more of a streamlined style wouldn't have gone astray."

Aussie's aside, this summer's Olympic games look set to be one of the most stylish yet.